tag: coloring

By David Abercrombie and Alex Pearson
A lot has been written and discussed about how to decompose (color) layouts for advanced process nodes that require multi­patterning (MP). However, one topic that has been sorely ignored is how to efficiently make changes to designs that are already colored, or even taped out and processed. We tend to act like all designs work out the first time through... » read more

It never ceases to amaze me how much confusion and misunderstanding there is when it comes to multi-patterning (MP) decomposition and checking. I sometimes forget just how new a topic it is in our industry. Because of this short-lived history, and the limited time designers have had to acquire any detailed understanding of its complexity, there appears to be some serious disconnect in expectati... » read more

In my last article, we looked at some case studies of the unique types of issues related to double patterning (DP) that place and route (P&R) and chip finishing engineers have to deal with. I’ve got some more interesting case studies to show you this time.
In modern P&R designs, the metal routes on a particular layer are unidirectional (or at least primarily unidirectional). Long p... » read more

David Abercrombie, advanced physical verification methodology program manager at Mentor Graphics, talks about triple and quadruple patterning after 20/16/14nm and what design teams need to understand to get this right.
[youtube vid=7bjutPWakpw] » read more

Semiconductor Engineering sat down to talk about the foundry business, process technology, design and other topics with Hong Hao, senior vice president of the foundry business at [getentity id="22865" e_name="Samsung Semiconductor"]; and Kelvin Low, senior director of foundry marketing at Samsung Semiconductor. What follows are excerpts of that discussion.
SE: The foundry business has alway... » read more

Prior to 28nm the semiconductor road map was astoundingly predictable. Every two years you could be assured that features would shrink until there were no more atoms left.
Two big things and lots of little things later, the trajectory looks much more uncertain.
On the large things side are the obvious culprits—EUV delays, and RC delay caused by thinner wires. This is tough science. Pro... » read more

It is clear that having two eyes is better than having just one. Not only is depth perception much better, but we get to enjoy 3D movies because of it. There is also some sense of security in knowing that if something terrible happened to one eye, you always have a backup.
Have you ever wondered if these sorts of advantages are extendable? You’ve probably heard the phrase about someone ha... » read more